Lubricating system for vertical shafts



'Sept. 8, 1931. A M,NET- .1,s2 2;s17

LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR VERTICAL SHAFTS Original Filed March 1, 1926 J 8 1o W 6 3 v in r on N L 11 1; y 124 j I n I.

Patented Sept. 8, 1931 PT QFFECE AUGUSTE MINET, or s'n-n'rrnnnn, FRANCE, assronon ro oonsrnuo'rron rnAnoarsn DAPPAREILS DE LAITEnIE, sooin'rn ANONYME, or ST.-ETIE1\T1\TE, FRANCE LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR VERTICAL SHAFTS Original application filed March 1, 1926, Serial No. 91,631, and in France September 2, 1925. Divided and this application filed February 9, 1927. Serial No. 197,925.

I have filed applications for patent in France on September 2, November 10 and November 16, 1925, and January 13, 1926; Germany September 19, 1925 and February 3, 1926; Spain October 14, 1925; Belgium September 29, 1925, and January 28, 1926; Holland November 10, 1925, and February 2, 1926; Italy October 8, 1925; Japan October 28, 1925; Switzerland November 10, 1925, and January 25, 1928; and Ozecho-Slovakia January 4, 1926.

The invention relates to improvements in lubricating systems for vertical shafts and more especially for the shafts of centrifugal machines such as are employed in dairies or in the textile or chemical trades, which must rotate at very high speeds.

The invention consists essentially in the novel arrangement and constr ction of parts, whereby a continuous circulation of lubricant to the various bearings or moving parts is assured, whether the machine is at rest or running and in which the oil is kept entirely away from the motor elements mounted on the vertical shaft. This application is a division of my copending application for Letters Patent on Drives for the cages of centrifugal machines, filed March 1, 1926, Serial Number 91,681.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing which is a vertical sectional View.

The arrangement comprises a hollow shaft or on which is keyed the rotor b rotating within a stator enclosed within a casing c.

The shaft a is accurately centred at its upper end in ball bearing (Z and at its lower rests in a foot step bearing 0, The shaft or spindle f carrying the centrifugal cage is arranged inside the hollow shaft a rigidly affixed to a member 7' having a hollow conical or other shaped interior. The socket carrying the spindle f is formed with a conical exterior 70, a driving pin 2' passing there through in order to transmit a rotating movement to the spindle. The spindle f is guided and supported partway along its length by a spring support h.

The friction clutch j is is provided to reduce the inevitable shocks at starting when the motor rapidly attains its maximum speed.

By raising the spindle f the contact between the member and the member j is broken which uncouples the electric motor from the spindle. On starting up, the shocks and unevenness of the drive from the motor are absorbed by slipping taking place between the two members 7' and is.

When the machine is running, the oil, aft-er flowing through the bearing h is forced by centrifugal action through the ball bearings (Z of the hollow shaft a of the rotor b (as shown by the arrows 2) From here it passes to a flange 1 from which it drops into a circular duct 8 (as shown by the arrows 3) from which it passes through the passages t to the lower ball bearin s u and to thefootstep bearing 6.

On the other hand when the machine is at rest the oil on passing through the bearing 71, flows against the spindle, 7 (as shown by the arrows 4) and so into the inside of the hollow shaft a lubricating the ball end i and then proceeding (as shown by the arrows 5) to the ball bearings a and the footstep hearing 6.

A small turbine w mounted on the lower end of the hollow shaft (2 below the lower ball bearing it draws oil from a reservoir a (as shown by the arrows 6) situated in the frame of the machine, forces it (as shown by the arrows 7) into the passage y the flow being regulated by a set screw 2.

At the top of this passage is a sight 8 allowing the flow to be observed at any time. After passing through the passage y the oil passes through a series of ducts 9 suitably arranged with respect to each other and then finally emerges at the upper side of. the spring guide bearing it through which it passes. It now divides into two streams. One portion following the arrows 2 flows through the ball bearing (i into a circular duct 8 as shown by the arrows 3 and then through the passages t to the reservoir 00. In this passage t a sight 10 is also provided so that the flow of oil can be observed. The other portion on emerging from the hearing it flows along the spindle f as shown by the arrows l lubricating the socket is, the bearing u the footstep bearing 6 and falls on to the turbine w by which it is recirculated.

In order to ensure a permanent lubrication 011 the clutch to give a smoother starting the outside of the socket is is formed with oil grooves 11.

Plugs 12 and 13 are employed for sealing the inlet and outlet ducts to the reservoir.

An cflicient lubrication system is thus obtained and one in which the oil is kept entirely separate from the motor windings.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is 15 1. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a casing, a revoluble element in the I casing and including a vertical tubular shaft having upper and lower bearings, 21 vertical spindle having its lower portion arranged in said tubular shaft and provided at its lower end with a bearing in said tubular shaft, a bearing in the upper portion of said casing for the upper portion of said spindle, means including a duct to supply lubricating oil 25 to the upper bearing of said spindle, said bearing being arranged to cause oil to descend therefrom into said tubular shaft to lubricate the lower bearing of said spindle when the machine is at rest and to centrifugally throw the lubricant to the upper bearing of the tubular shaft when it is in operation, said casing having a duct leading from below the last named bearing to the lower bearing of said tubular shaft to conduct lubricant to said lower bearing and being further provided with a return duct which leads from the lower bearing of the tubular shaft and which conveys lubricant therefrom to the upper bearing of the spindle, the said tubular shaft being provided near its lower end with means to cause the lubricant to circulate through the lubricating duct and also through the return duct.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in

which the duct which leads from the lower bearing of the tubular shaft is a return duct which conveys lubricant to the upper bearing of the spindle and the said tubular shaft is provided near its lower end with means to cause the lubricant to circulate through the lubricating duct and also through the return duct.

In witness whereof I aliix my signature.

AUGUSTE MINET. 

